Aloha and welcome new student to the New Student Orientation (NSO) program! New Student Orientation (NSO) is filled with fun activities all designed to create connections with other new students, with our amazing UH Hilo faculty, and with numerous campus resources and the awesome staff that run them. We invite you to immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of our university's culture and traditions during New Student Orientation (NSO). By participating in our program, you'll cultivate a strong sense of belonging and place, forging lasting bonds with fellows students, faculty, and staff that will accompany you throughout your journey at our university.
The sign up for spring 2027 NSO is open from October 15, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
ʻOhana Orientation invititations are generated when the student signs up for orientation and submits their ʻohana names and emails.
The Spring 2027 NSO schedule will be available in mid-November.
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**Spring 2027 New Student Orientation (NSO) opens for sign up on Thursday October 15th, 2026 and closes on Thursday December 31st, 2026.
Spring 2027 NSO will be held on Thursday January 7th-Friday January 8th, 2027.
If you have questions about NSO, please email uhhnso@hawaii.edu and our Vulcan Orientation Staff will follow up.
A portion of your mandatory New Student Engagement Fee is allocated towards your participation in New Student Orientation!
New Student Orientation is open to UH Hilo freshmen and transfer students of all class standings. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. The Vulcan Spring 2027 Orientation program is on Thursday January 7th and Friday January 8th and spans into the first week of instruction with Vulcan Week of Welcome.
Getting here…
When should I arrive?
If you are living on campus in the Residence Halls please take time to review the following important dates and rate information.
Airport Shuttle to campus
Airport Shuttle Sign Up will begin in November 2026. This service is free and is a way for us to welcome you to Hilo and into our ʻohana.
What others have said
We always like to assess the programs that we offer so that we can continue to improve the way in which we support the success of our students. Here are a couple of things our students told us last year about their Orientation experience:
97%
“Orientation helped me feel welcomed to UH Hilo”
93%
“Through Orientation I learned about resources and offices on campus”
99%
“Orientation helped me feel better prepared to start my first semester at UH Hilo”
92%
“I would recommend this orientation program to other new students”
Some of our students shared:
"Orientation helped me come out of my shell and meet some people that changed my approach to school completely! It really helped me build community and have a better understanding of how things work around here!”
--Natalie, Biology Major, Fall 2025.
"Orientation was super fun! I was able to learn so much about the resources and amenities available on campus. I was also able to meet lots of new people which made starting school a lot easier! Being from Hilo, I wasn’t sure if attending the orientation was for me, but I’m happy I participated!"
--Bella, Exploratory Health Sciences Major, Fall 2025.
"Becoming a Vulcan Orientation Leader (VOL) opened the door to community on campus. From meeting new faces, to making life long connections. It’s more than a short gig with good pay, it’s an opportunity to connect with so many amazing people within the UH Hilo community."
--Sebastian, Kinesiology Major, VOL Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026.
[^3] ʻOhana Tour locations include: campus, library, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, a student Q & A panel, and
networking with community young professionals
